Electric-light socket.



W. H. WALTERS. ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1s, 1909.

Patented Sept, 1910.

. Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the casing closely.

WILLIE H. WALTERS, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Application filed November 13, 1909. Serial No. 527,798.

To all whom it may concern: A

vBe it known that I, WiLLrE H. WALTERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salt Lake City, in the county of Electric-Light Sockets, of which the following is a specification.`

My invention is an improvement in electric light sockets, and oonsistsin certain novel constructions,` and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a three point socket having a novel turning off mechanism, which may be easily operated.

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 -is a longitudinal section of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, consists of the preferably tubular casing 1, having a reduced portion 2 at one end, and beaded as at 3 near the end of the reduced portion, and a lining 4;, fitting A threaded shell 5 is arranged in the reduced portion for engaging the usual bulb, and the outer end of the casing is closed by a cap ring 6, havingl a flange 7 fitting outside the casing, and a lining 8, and in the end of the cap ring is inserted the insulating plug 9, secured in place by a set screw 10. The cap is locked to the casing in the usual manner. i

A plug 11 of insulating ranged adjacent to the cap, and is provided over a part of its circumference with a reduced portion 12 adjacent to the threaded shell, and with a plurality of longitudinal openings 13 at the sides of the reduced portion and arranged at angles of 90o from each other. The provision of the reduced portion provides a shoulder 14, and three contact bars are arranged around the reinaterial is arduced portion.

Two of the diametrically opposite bars consists each of a body portion 15 lying alongside the reduced portion of the plug, and an angular portion 16 lying against the shoulder, and radial to the plug, secured to the plug by a screw 17 which passes through the adjacent opening 13 :and engages a threaded opening in the angular portion. Each bar is also provided with a l portion 19.

- extends through the slot,

.as a spring 28 to tight connection with either bar 15 whichv wing 15a extending substantially radially from the plug and at right angles to both the body portion and the angular portion, and a set-screw 14a is threaded through each wing. i

The bars just described are at diametrically opposite points', and one of the intermediate bars consists of a body portion 18, and an angular portion 19 secured by a screw 17 in the same manner as the other bars, but the body portion of the said bar is sprung away from the reduced portion as shown in Fig. 3, and at its inner end is provided with an angular portion 20, eX- tending in the opposite direction from the The body portion 18.of the bar in question is also provided with a set screw 21 threaded therethrough for engaginggthe reduced portion of the plug, and both the body portion and the angular'portion 2O are cut away as at 22 on each side, and a lug 23 projects outwardly on each side of the body portion, at the commencement of the cut away portion. The free end of the angular portion 20 is headed as at 24, and extends to the center of the casing as shown in Fig. 3, yand the reduced portion of the plug is provided withV a transverse slot 25, whose ends are covered by the first named contact bars.

A key or shaft 2G of insulating material the said bars, and the said key or shaft is provided at approximately its center with a contact maker 27 ofv conducting material, approximately segmental in outline, and secured to the shaft by its apex. The free edge of the contact maker is adapted to make contact between either of the bars 15, and the threaded shell 5 of the socket.

A wire which extends about half way between the free ends of the Contact bars, acts hold contact maker 27 in are bent outwardly as at 29, and the at tached end of the wire is provided with an eye 30, which is received between the head 31 of a bolt 32, and the end of the reduced portion of the plug, the bolt vextending through the remaining opening 13, and being secured in place by a nut 33.

It will be evident from4 the construction, that when the key is moved longitudinally, the contact maker 27 is changed from one bar 15 to the other bar 1 5', thus changing the connection of shell 5. plate 311 of insulatand is jouriialed in (lne of.

ing material is arranged between the shell and the head oi. the third contact bar. the. bars l5 is connected to one of the terminals ot' the feed circuit, while the other is not connected when the lamp is used as a two point socket. Then used as a two pointsocket, one ot the terminals of the feed circuit is connected with the bar 18, and the other terminal with either bar l5, thus leaving the other bar a dead point. `When used as a three point socket, the bar 18 is connectedwith one terminal of the feed Wire, and each barl 'is connected with a point of the usual three point switch. The operation is, however, the same as when used as a twolpoint socket. Then used as a three point socket'iconnected with a three point switch," the desired results in making' and breaking Acircuit are attained at either the switch or-soc'ket.

I'claim: i f

l. y Adevice of the character specified comprising a shell, a plug of insulating material to which the shell is connected, oppositely arranged bars of conducting material supported by the plug, said plug having a transverse opening, and the said bars covering the ends of the opening and each having' a bearing registering therewith, a key Comprisinga stem of insulating material slidableA through the bearings and a Contact maker of conducting material, a third bar at right angles to the key and having a head extending into theshell and insulated there- `from', said shell `being threaded, and a spring to hold said contactanaker.

2. A device of the character specified comprising a 'plug of insulating material, a key l l I verse opening', a threaded shell connectedy y with the plug, a Contact bar at each end of the opening, each bar having a bearing, air insulated stem slidable in the bearings, 'a spring for holding the stem in adjusted position, and a contact maker of conducting material on the stem for connecting either of the bars with the shell. f 4. In a device of the character specified, a threaded shell, oppositely arranged Contact bars on the shell and insulated therefrom, each of said bars having a bearing, a stem 0I' insulating material slidable in the bearings, and a contact maker on the stem for connecting either of the bars and the shell. l 5.\In a device of the character specified, a plug of insulating material, a threaded shell for engaging a plug, a pair of resilient contact bars secured to the plug, one of said bars having an angular portion extending to the center of the shell, means for connecting either of the. bars .with t-he shell anda plate of insulating material between the shelly and the angular portion.

WILLIE H. IVALTERS. y. lVitnesses f I MARIE FAIRGLOUGH,

N. M. LONG. 

